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1921 

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DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Partial List of Successful and Popular Plays. Large Catalogue Free. 



DRAMAS, COMEDIES, 
ENTERTAINMENTS, Efe. 

M. F. 

Aaron Boggs, Freshman, 3 

acts, 2*4 hrs (35c) 8 8 

Abbu Sari of Old Japan, 2 arts. 

2 hrs (35c) 15 

After the Game, 2 acts, 1*4 

hrs (25c) 1 9 

All a Mistake, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(35c) 4 4 

All on Account of Polly, 3 acts, 

2*4 hrs (35c) 6 10 

And Home Came Ted, 3 acts, 

2% hrs (50c) 6 6 

Arizona Cowboy, 4 acts, 2 *4 

hrs (35c) 7 5 

Assisted by Sadie, 4 acts, 2*4 

hrs (50c) 6 6 

As a Woman Thinketh, 3 acts, 

2^ hrs (35c) 9 7 

At the End of the Rainbow, 3 

acts, 2% hrs (35c) 6 14 

Black Heifer, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 9 3 

Boy Scout Hero, 2 acts, 1)4 hrs. 

(25c) 17 

Boy Scouts' Good Turn, 3 acts, 

1*4 hrs (25c) 16 2 

Brookdale Farm, 4 acts, 2*4 

hrs (25c) 7 3 

Brother Josiah, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Busy Liar, 3 acts, 2%. h. (25c) 7 4 
Call of the Colors, 2 acts, 1*4 

hrs (25c) 4 10 

Call of Wohelo, 3 acts, 1}4 

hrs (25c) W 

Camouflage of Shirley, 3 acts, 

2*4 hrs (35c) 810 

Civil Service, 3 acts, 2 l A hxs. 

(35c) 6 5 

College Town, 3 acts, 2% 

hrs (35c) 9 8 

Deacon Dubbs, 3 acts, 2% hrs. 

(35c) 5 5 

Deacon Entangled, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(35c) 6 4 

Down in Dixie, 4 acts, 2V 2 

hrs (25c) 8 4 

Dream That Came True, 3 

acts, 2Yi hrs (35c) 6 13 

Editor-in-Chief, 1 hr (25c) 10 

Enchanted Wood, 1H h (35c).Optnl. 
Everyyouth, 3 acts, V/ a h. (25c) 7 6 
Face at the Window, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 4 4 

For the Love of Johnnv, 3 

acts, 2*4 hrs (50c) 6 3 

Fun on the Podunk Limited. 

1% hrs (joo 9 14" 

Gettirt' Acquainted, 25 min. 

(35c) 1 2 

Her Honor, the Mavor, 3 h 

' hrs (35c) 3 5 ■ 



M. *. 

High School Freshman, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 12 

Indian Days. 1 hr (50c) S 2 

In Plum Valley, 4 acts, 2% 

hrs (25c) 6 4 

Jayville Junction, 1% hrs. (25c) 14 17 
Kicked Out of College, 3 acts, 

2% hrs (35c) 10 9 

Kingdom of Heart's Content, 3 

acts, 2J4 hrs (35c) 6 12 

Laughing Cure, 2 acts, 1)4 hrs. 

(35cl 4 5 

Lighthouse Nan, 3 acts, 2% 

hrs (35c) 5 4 

Little Buckshot, 3 acts, 2%, hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Little Clodhopper, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (35c) 3 4 

Mirandy's Minstrels. . . . (30c) Optnl. 
Mrs. Tubbs of Shantytown, 3 

acts, 2*4 hrs (35c) 4 7 

My Irish Rose, 3 acts, 2*4 hrs. 

(35c) 6 6 

Old Maid's Club, 1*4 hrs. (30c) 2 lt> 
Old Oaken Bucket, 4 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 8 6 

Old School at Hick'ry Holler, 

1*4 hrs (30c) 12 9 

On the Little Big Horn, 4 acts, 

2% hrs (25c) 10 4 

Poor Married Man. 3 acts, 2 

hrs (35c) 4 4 

Prairie Rose. 4 acts, 2*4 h.(35c) 7 4 
Real Thing After All, 3 acts, 

2*4 hrs (35c) 7 9 

Rustic Romeo, 2 acts, 2*4 

hrs (35c) 10 12 

Ruth in a Rush, 3 acts, 2% 

hrs (35c) 5 7 

Safety First, 3 acts, 

2*4 hrs (35c) 5 5 

Southern Cinderella, 3 acts. 2 

hrs (30c) 7 

Spark of Life, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 4 4 

Spell of the Image, 3 acts, 2*4 

hrs (35c) 10 10 

Star Bright, 3 acts, 2*4 h. (35c) 6 5 
Those Dreadful Twins, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 6 4 

Thread of Destiny, 3 acts, 2*4 

hrs (35c) 9 16 

Tony, the Convict, 5 acts, 2Y 2 

hrs .(25c) 7 4 

Trial of Hearts, 4 acts, 2*4 hrs. 

(35c) 6 18 

Trip to Storyiand, 1*4 hrs.(25c) 17 23 
Uncle Josh. 4 acts, 2*4 hrs. (25c) 8 3 . 
Under Blue Skies, 4 acts. 2 

hrs <35c) 7 10 

When Smith Stepped Ot 3 

acts, 2 hrs (50c) 4 4 

Whose Little Bride Are You? 

3 acts, 2Y 2 hrs (50c) 5 5 

Winning Widow. 2 acts, 1*4 hrs. 

(25c) 2 4 



T. S. D EN I SO N & CO M PAN Y f Publishers 623 S . Wabash Ave . , Chicago 



u 



Comrades Courageous 



AN EIGHTH GRADE PLAY 
In Two Acts 



BY 

LINDSEY BARBEE 

AUTHOR OF 

'At the End of the Rainbow" "The Call of Wohclo" "The Dream 
That Came True," "The Empty House,' 3 "How Beth Won 
the Camp fire Honor," "Sing a Song of Seniors," 
"Let's Pretend — A Book of Chil- 
dren's Plays" Etc. 




CHICAGO 
T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 
Publishers 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

For Six Boys and Four Girls. ^j ^ 



CHARACTERS. ^ fv^^ 



Comrades Courageous 



(Named in order of appearance.) 

Tom 

George 

Fred 

Ted 

Polly Who Plans It All 

Peggy An Inquisitive Sister 

Patty An Inquisitive Friend 

Helen Tom's Older Sister 

Rob Who Meets the Robber 

Jim The Intended Victim 



Time — The Present. 



Place — A Deserted Cabin in the Woods. 



Time of Playing — About One Hour. 



Act I. Interior of the Cabin. 
Act II. The Same. 



COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY LINDSEY BARBEE 
2 

©CI.D 5 89 11) 
OCT 19 1921 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 



STORY OF THE PLAY. 



The "Comrades Courageous" — four boys, Tom, George, 
Fred and Ted, whose families are residents of a summer 
colony — are camping in a nearby cabin and are planning to 
initiate a fifth member, Jim, who is to wajt for them at a cer- 
tain spot, blindfolded. Tom's sister, Polly, and her friends 
are exceedingly eager for the boys to make a comrade also 
of Rob, a newcomer in the colony, but objection is made to 
his admission. Jim, unable to meet the boys at the appointed 
time, telephones that he will come later. Polly receives the 
message. She substitutes Rob for Jim. Since the new com- 
rade is blindfolded the boys do not guess his real identity. 
As his test for initiation they, send him to keep vigil upon a 
lonely road where a bandit has recently held sway and 
where, on that very evening, the automobile bearing the 
mail from the station has been waylaid and the mail bag 
stolen. The adventure has a thrilling and unexpected end- 
ing. For the bandit with his booty really appears ; and 
Rob, hidden in a clump of trees, strikes him down, recovers 
the mail, and returns victorious to the cabin. 



SYNOPSIS FOR PROGRAM. 

Act I. To the accompaniment of rain, thunder and 
lightning, the Comrades Courageous hold their first initia- 
tion. 

Act II. Still pursued by the elements, the initiate strug- 
gles back with a story to tell and a mail bag to display. 



COSTUMES. 

Tom, George, Fred, Ted and Rob wear rough sport 
clothes with belts, slouch hats, etc. Jim is in a dark wool 
suit with raincoat and cap. The girls wear pretty, dainty 
summer gowns. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

LIST OF PROPERTIES. 

Covered basket for Rex. 

Handkerchief for Fred. 

Watch for George. 

Umbrella for Jim. 

Mail bag for Rob. 

Cookstove, on which is a teakettle with a skillet nearby. 

Rough table and four chairs. 

Wooden bench. 

Dishes, knives and forks, cups and saucers, plate of meat 

and pan of biscuits on table. 
Small tallow candles. 



SCENE PLOT. 
Acts I and II. 



3 H Door 



Window Window \ 



Chai 
□ 



Stove 



□ Table D Chair 
Chair ' — — — ' 

□ Chair 



. Door 

!tich\) \ 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

R. means right of stage ; C, center ; L., left of stage ; up 
stage, away from footlights ; down stage, near footlights. 
The actor is supposed to be facing the audience. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 



Act I. 



Perhaps you'll be disappointed when the curtain rises, for 
you see only a very unattractive little room in a very unat- 
tractive little cabin. But if you happen to be a boy you'll 
know in a moment that it is just the kind of place for a 
lark — that it is easy to imagine oneself a highway robber in 
possession or a shipwrecked sailor on a desert isle or a lonely 
hunter in his forest lair. And if you're not imaginative you 
realize just the same that it is a bully spot for your own 
particular crowd to camp; for, on either side of the rough 
door at center is an open window — uncurtained of course — 
while a small and zvorse-for-zvear cook stove is in the corner 
at the left of the door. A door on the left leads evidently to 
another room and down stage from this door is a wooden 
bench. On the other side of the room, opposite the bench, 
is a rough table and around the table are four rickety chairs. 
The chairs are not unoccupied either; for Tom holds sway on 
the left with George opposite him while Fred is facing you 
and Ted has his back to the audience. On the table you 
see the sad remains of what has been an evening meal. The 
boys wear the roughest of clothes — with an eye to the pic- 
turesque; for boots and red bandannas and hunting knives 
are in great profusion. 

George. What's the matter with this meat, Tom ? I can't 
cut it. 

Tom {using a hunting knife most dexterously). Easiest 
thing in the world. (As he makes a manful effort to mas- 
ticate.) It's — fine! 
v Fred. It's leather, that's what it is — just leather. 

Tom. Then suppose that next time you cook it. 

Fred. I intend to. 

Ted. These biscuits are bullets — real honest-to-goodness 
bullets. 



6 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

George. That's because Fred forgot the baking powder. 
(And he points an accusing finger at the offender.) 

Fred. What if I did? Baking powder isn't the chief 
part of biscuits. 

Ted. Well it's the part that shows the most. 

Fred. Say, George, didn't you pour the dish water into 
the coffee pot by mistake? 

George (bristling). What's the matter with the coffee? 

Fred. That's what I'm asking you. 

Ted. It's natural for a fellow to expect his coffee to have 
some color and some taste. 

George (sarcastically). Oh — 'is it! 

Tom (still more sarcastically) . Maybe Ted wants a per- 
colator in camp. 

A painful silence ensues — and, once more, a desperate 
assault is made upon the unfortunate repast. With renewed 
vigor, Tom zvliacks at the offending meat, George bites the 
bullet-like biscuits and Fred vigorously shakes the coffee pot. 

Tom (with his fork half-way to hif mouth). We're hav- 
ing fried chicken at our house tonight. 

George (with feeling). Gosh! (And unconsciously he 
thrusts his meat from him.) 

Ted. And mother promised us — muffins. 

Fred (almost in a whisper). Muffins! (Suddenly a bis- 
cuit wings its way across the room.) 

Tom. See here, fellows. You're not putting up a square 
deal. 

George. Square deal! You mean square meal. 

Tom. And you're not living up to your promise. 

Fred. How can we live up to anything when there's 
nothing to live, on ? 

Tom. A fellow can't learn to cook in one day ! 

Ted. Or in two ! 

Fred. Or three ! 

George. Or four! 

Tom. You knew all that when we planned to camp out. 
Nice sports you are ! 

George. The camping part is all right. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 7 

Fred. It's the grub that knocks us out. 

Tom. And you wouldn't be thinking so much about grub 
if you didn't happen to know about all the good things on 
your family tables. 

Ted. Camping out is a funny sort of a proposition when 
a fellow's family is near enough to keep an eye on him. 

Tom. But if we weren't near enough for that very thing 
there would be no camping out at all. 

George. That's a fact. 

Tom. Then let's make the most of it. (Pauses.) I'll 
propose a new resolution for the bunch. 

Fred. What's that ? 

Tom. Be a sport. Will you back me up in that ? 

Ted. Guess we'll have to. (Pauses, in turn.) I'll add 
another good resolution. Swallow the grub. 

George (groaning). Eat, drink and be merry — if we 
can! 

Fred. And most of all — let's cut out the knocking. 

Tom. Now we're getting down to brass tacks. What 
shall we call ourselves anyway ? 

George. How would Knights of the Camp Fire do? 

Fred. Rotten. Whoever heard of knights having any- 
thing to do with a camp fire? 

Ted. And who wants to wear all that tin armor stuff? 

George (on the defensive). Modern knights don't wear 
tin armor. 

Fred (with a flash of inspiration). How would Boy 
Bandits do? 

Tom. With this section of the country making a specialty 
of hold-ups? We'd land in jail before we'd know what had 
struck us. 

George. There's been a hold-up every week, hasn't there ? 

Tom. Three of them altogether. 

George (meditatively). And nobody's been able to catch 
the man ! 

Fred. He sure has his nerve. 

Ted. Queer, isn't it, that he'd choose this little old sum- 
mer resort for all his stunts? 

Fred. Not queer at all. Everybody has to come from 



8 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

the station in an automobile ; and on that twisting, winding 
road a bandit has every chance in the world. 

George (suddenly). I have an idea! 

Tom. Then don't let it loose in this crowd — there might 
be a riot. 

George. Let's initiate Jim by sending him after the 
bandit. 

Ted. What do you mean ? 

George. Just what I say. We're planning to initiate 
Jim, aren't we? 

Ted. Rather. 

George. Then let's give him a sure enough job and make 
him play sentinel on the very road where all the hold-ups 
have been. 

Fred. He might balk. 

George. And be left out of this bunch? Not much. 

Tom. When is he due? 

George. Train's in now. I told him to wait back of that 
little clump of trees near the bridge until we came for him. 

Fred. What else did you tell him? 

George. To wear rough clothes and to use a handker- 
chief for a mask. 

Ted. He won't do it. 

George. We'll make him. 

Ted. Maybe his family will kick. 

George. His family won't be down until next week. 
He's Tom's guest until then. 

Fred. Fine welcome he's getting. 

George. He's being initiated. 

Fred. Into what? 

George. Something that hasn't even a name. 

Ted. Let's call ourselves the Bonfire Bunch. That fills 
the bill. 

George. I don't see why it does. We haven't had a single 
bonfire so far. 

Tom. I've thought of a bully name. 

George. Let's have it. 

Tom. Comrades Courageous. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 9 

Fred (after a pause). Sounds pretty flowery — but it will 
•do, I reckon. 

Ted. It's all right as far as I am concerned. 

George. Suits me. 

Tom. Then that's settled. Comrades Courageous are we. 

Ted. After Jim is initiated there will be five of us — too 
bad we can't find somebody else to make the sixth. I like 
even numbers. 

Fred. Isn't there somebody else to ask? 

Tom. There's — Rob. 

George. Well we don't want him. 

Tom. What's the matter with him? 

George. Sissy. 

Tom. How do you know? 

George. Any fellow with all that money, and with a 
silly tutor hanging round him all the time, is just bound to 
be sissy. 

Tom. Oh— I— don't— know. 

Fred. Oh, yes he is. And he has his own saddle horse, 
too. 

Ted. And his father has built the very biggest house in 
this summer colony. (Pauses.) We don't want him. 

Tom. And he's probably so fond of himself and so fond 
of doing the proper thing that we'd bore him to death. 
(Pauses.) No — we don't want him. 

And at this moment the ugly old windows are transformed 
into picture frames — for, unseen by the absorbed ones, two 
very pretty and frankly inquisitive faces appear at one open- 
ing—and a correspondingly inquisitive maid at the other. 
Suddenly, they disappear from sight and a moment after- 
wards a vigorous knocking shakes the old door. 

Tom (after a moment's silence during which the Com- 
rades gaze inquiringly at one another). Come in! 

The door swings open and in walks a very pompous and 
very serious dog whose tail wags in a friendly fashion and 
who carries by its handle a large covered basket. 

George. It's Rex. (Rushes to him.) Good old. fellow ! 
(Sniffs eagerly at the basket.) Kids, it smells like food. 



10 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Peggy. Of course it's food. 

And the boys behold in the doorway the three visitors of 
the windoiv frames — Peggy, Polly and Patty — daintily 
gowned, profusely ribboned and charmingly becurled. 

Polly. Mother thought that you might need it. 

Patty. There's chicken in it — and jelly — and cake — and 
dressed eggs — and — 

Tom Great! If I hadn't eaten so much already I'd tackle 
it this minute. (As he takes the basket from the dog.) Give 
it up, old fellow. And come along to the bench, Patty — 
we'll put the eats between us. {And they suit the action to 
the word.) 

Polly {contemptuously viewing the remains of the feast). 
Is that all you had for supper? 

George. All! What would we want with any more? 
{Draius out a chair.) Sit down, Polly. {And Polly, dust- 
ing the chair with her handkerchief, carefully settles her- 
self.) 

Peggy (as Fred drazus out the other chair for her). It 
looks just like dog meat. Why, Rex wouldn't touch it ! 

Ted (sprawling with Rex in the middle of the floor as 
Fred and George scat themselves in the two unoccupied 
chairs). Anything that's good enough for us is good enough 
for you, isn't it, old sport? 

Patty (tiptoeing to the door at left and peering in). Do 
you sleep in — there? (Shudders.) Ugh! 

Tom. When it rains we do. 

Patty. It's rained every night, hasn't it? (And slie tip- 
toes just as carefully back to her place on the bench.) 

Peggy They've been camping out only three days — and 
they talk as if they were old timers. 

Polly. I don't see why they call it camping out when 
they're all huddled in this — perfectly — awful — place. (Dis- 
dainfully.) I wouldn't stay here a minute! 

Tom (with the frankness of the average brother). Wait 
until somebody asks you. 

Peggy. And I have an idea that all the food you get is 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS . 11 

what your mothers send you. (And again she scornfully 
regards the melancholy mess.) 

George. Oh — is — that — so — smarty? (By which cour- 
teous remark one infers that George is Peggy's brother.) 

Fred (patronizingly). You girls can't understand camp 
life — you just can't understand it. 

Polly. Maybe we can't — but there's nothing the matter 
with our eyesight. (Glances around.) And if this is camp 
life — well — 

Ted. Roughing it is just what we like. 

Tom. And if we choose to spend our vacation in this 
cabin, why — 

Polly. Spend your vacation! (Shrugging her should- 
ers.) Oh! 

Tom What do you mean by saying Oh? 

Polly (tcasingly). Just — something! 

Tom. You make me furious when you act like that. 

Polly (saucily). What's it to me? 

Tom. And you needn't act as if you knew so much. 

Polly. But I do know that mother isn't going to let you 
stay here any longer. 

Tom. • That isn't so. 

Polly. Oh, yes it is. 

Peggy. And mother has it in for George, too. 

George (bristling). What do you mean by that? 

Polly. Just — this. All of you boys are to stay at home 
at night. 

Peggy. On account of the hold-ups. 

Tom. Stuff — and — nonsense. 

George. Aren't we big enough to take care of ourselves? 

Fred. Four of us? 

Ted. Five, you mean. 

Patty. Who's the fifth? 

Ted. Jim. We're initiating him tonight. 

Patty. Initiating him into what? 

Ted. Into this club of ours. We call ourselves Comrades 
Courageous. 

Peggy (after a pause of astonishment). I never heard 
of anything so silly. 



12 . COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

George. That will be enough from you, young lady. 

Fred. Jim's probably waiting for us this very moment. 

Polly. But he isn't. (Suddenly she stops.) 

Tom. Isn't — what? 

Polly. Nothing. (Quickly.) Look here — why don't you 
take in the new boy? 

Tom. What new boy? 

Polly. Our neighbor — Rob. 

George (sarcastically). The highflyer. 

Peggy. He isn't, either. He's just fine. 

George. How do you know ? 

Peggy. We all talked to him this morning. 

Polly. And he's just as nice as he can be. 

Tom. Oh — is he? 

Patty. It isn't fair to be mean just because he has a lot 
of money. 

Fred. Who's being mean? We're just letting him alone. 

Polly. And he's just crazy to get in with you boys. 

Ted. Hinting for an invitation won't get him one. 

Patty. Boys are so hateful. 

Tom. And girls fall for any old thing. 

George (uneasily). Hadn't we better go for Jim? 

Patty. Go for him? Why doesn't he come here? 

George. Because when we initiate people we go for 
them. 

Peggy. What are you going to do to him ? 

George (mysteriously). Oh — lots of things. 

Peggy (snappily). Thanks for telling me so much about 
it. 

George. You're welcome. 

Polly (who has been laboring tinder much excitement). 
If a boy's initiated he's in for good, isn't he? 

Ted. Of course. 

Polly. Where is Jim supposed to wait for you? 

Fred. In the clump of trees near the bridge. 

Polly. How is he dressed? 

Tom. What's it to you? 

Polly. I just want to know. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 13 

Fred. Why in rough clothes of course — with a handker- 
chief for a mask. 

Peggy. For a mask? 

Fred. Like this. (And he illustrates by flaunting a 
grimy handkerchief.) 

Patty. My — what a dirty handkerchief ! 

Peggy. They're roughing it, Pat — roughing it. 

George. See here, Peggy, if you can't be civil you can 
go home. 

Polly (rising). I'm going now. 

Peggy. Polly ! 

Polly. Yes — I am. I can't wait another minute. {And 
off she runs to the door.) 

Ted. What's your hurry? 

Tom (with brotherly solicitude) . Stay— do stay — please 
stay. 

Polly (at door). And maybe you think you won't ini- 
tiate Rob ! 

George. Rob? 

Polly. But / say — you've got to ! 

Tom. See here, Polly. I can't help your being my sis- 
ter but I can draw the line on taking any orders from you. 

Polly. You've just got to ! That's all. Come on, Rex. 
(As the dog follows her she goes off, slamming the door, 
and a moment later she is seen hurrying past the window.) 

Peggy. What on earth's the matter? 

Ted (rising and taking the chair vacated by Polly). 
Maybe she's hurrying off to ask Rob to join the crowd. 

Peggy. But we had intended to stay — oh ever so long. 

Fred. I wonder if I'd better see that she reaches home 
all right. (Strolls to window.) It's getting dark. 

Tom. Not dark enough to make any difference. She'll 
be at the house in five linutes — and, anyway, she has Rex. 

Fred. But suppose the bandit — 

Tom. Don't be silly. It's too early for him. 

Peggy (half rising). Perhaps we'd better go, too. 

Patty. But, Peggy — we haven't had refreshments yet. 

Tom. Refreshments? Where do you expect to get them? 



14 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Patty (pointing to the basket). We thought that — may- 
be — you'd give us some. 

Fred. But you've had your dinners. 

Patty. Of course. 

Tom (drawing basket to him). And this is to help us 
out. 

Peggy. But you surely won't let us go home without 
anything to eat. 

George. Why won't we? 

Peggy. Because it isn't polite. 

George. Nobody asked you to come in the first place. 

Patty. That isn't polite, either. 

George. Just as polite as asking for things. 

Peggy. We didn't ask — we only suggested. 

Patty. And, anyway, we brought it to you. 

George. Rex brought it. 

Fred (hastily). Oughtn't we to go after Jim? 

Ted (rising). It's way past train time — and — 

Fred. And if we don't hurry he may think we're not 
coming — and move on. (Stands by door.) 

Tom. He wouldn't dare. 

Peggy. Why wouldn't he dare? Your old club isn't so 
much. 

Patty. And I should think that — (Patty stops sud- 
denly, for there is the sound of galloping hoofs, and the 
sound comes nearer and nearer.) What's that? 

Fred. Somebody's in a hurry. (Then "Whoa" shouts a 
thundering voice outside and the horse stops. And "Who's 
in there?" calls the voice.) 

Peggy (hurrying to Patty). O-h-h ! I'm scared! 

Tom (rising and hurrying to the door). Something's 
wrong. 

George (following him). I'll go with you. 

(Again the voice calls "Who's in there?") 

Ted. Hurry up. (And he joins them.) 

Fred opens the door and peers out. The other three 
boys crowd behind him. 

Tom. What's the matter? 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 15 

The Voice. Matter enough. Th^e mail bag's been stolen. 

George. Who did it? 

The Voice. Who's doing all the meanness in this part 
of the country? 

Fred. The bandit? 

The Voice. Who else? Held up the machine in broad 
daylight. 

Ted. And got away with it? • 

The Voice. Got away with the mail bag — what's worse? 

Tom. Can't somebody do something? 

The Voice. Doesn't look like it. 

George. I'd like to get a whack at him. 

The Voice. He's more likely to get a whack at you. 
That's the reason I stopped to warn you kids. 

George. Wart* us? 

The Voice. About the bandit. 

Fred. What's it to us? 

The Voice. A whole lot if he comes breaking in upon 
you. 

Ted. But this is our cabin. 

The Voice. How's he to know that? Any old cabin 
would look pretty good to him if he's trying to keep out 
of sight. 

Tom. We're not afraid. 

The Voice. Maybe not — but the best place for you 
young fellows is home. 

George. But we don't want to go home. 

The Voice. That's your business, of course — but you've 
been warned. So if anything happens it's your own fault. 

Fred. Thanks just the same for putting us wise. 

The Voice. Oh — that's all right. So long. 

(And in a few moments the noise of the hoofbeats dies 
away. The boys come back slowly and make their way to 
the table, save Tom, zvho stands protectingly behind the 
two maidens who are huddled together on the bench.) 

Peggy. Oh, I wish that we'd never, never come ! 

Patty. And how shall we ever get home? 



16 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Fred. Ted and I'll go with you. We're starting after 
Jim anyway. 

Peggy. Jim? Surely you won't try that silly initiation 
after all this. 

George. Why won't we? 

Peggy. With this dreadful bandit running around loose? 

George. He won't touch us. 

Tom. And we don't intend to change our plans just to 
accommodate him — do we, fellows? 

Ted. Not much. 

Peggy. Just the same you may be forced to change your 
plans. 

George. And what do you know about it, smarty ? (Ad- 
vances threateningly.) 

Peggy. Well, I know what mother and father will say. 

Patty. Oh, do stop quarreling, Peggy — please — and let's 
go home. 

Fred. Better go while the going's good. (Mores to 
door.) 

Tom. How long before you'll be back? 

Ted. We can make it in ten minutes easily. (Joins 
Fred.) 

Tom. Even if we see that the girls get home safely? 

Ted. Sure we can. The place where Jim is waiting isn't 
very far off, you know. 

Tom. All right then. 

Patty. Oh do let's go on — please. 

Tom (taking the basket). But we haven't had refresh- 
ments. 

Patty. We don't want refreshments. 

Tom. Changed your minds, haven't you? 

Peggy. And so have you. Ten minutes ago you wouldn't 
have offered to feed us. 

Tom. That was — ten minutes ago. 

Peggy. And you wouldn't be so generous now if you 
thought we'd stay long enough to eat it. 

Patty (wailing). Oh why are we staying at all? 

Fred. I'm sure I don't know. We're waiting for you 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 17 

Patty (hurrying to them). Then do come along, Peggy. 

Peggy {following, but unable to resist a parting shot). 
Anyway — I'll tell. 

George (tauntingly, as the door closes behind the four). 
Tell away ! 

Tom (thought f idly, as he seats himself on the bench). 
I wonder if we'd better go on with it? 

George (standing before him). With what? 

Tom. With that stunt of sending Jim to act as sentinel. 

George. We'll never again get so good a one. 

Tom. Never. (A pause ensues.) 

George. And the old bandit won't come back to that 
particular spot — tonight, anyway. 

Tom. Of course not. 

George. Jim might balk. 

Tom. Fellows don't balk at initiation. 

George. Well, this bandit business makes it a bit dif- 
ferent from a regular initiation. 

Tom. Jim hasn't been here — so he won't be so worked 
up over the hold-ups as we are. 

George. Then we'll do as we planned? 

Tom. Let's. It won't hurt him. 

George (after a pause). Funny about this bandit, isn't 
it? 

Tom. I don't see anything funny about it. 

George. You know what I mean. 

Tom. Well, you'd think that somebody would get a line 
on him. 

George. Wouldn't you? (Both boys gaze into space.) 
You know, Tom, I'd like to be a bandit. 

Tom. So should I. 

George. Of course I'd never keep all the things I took. 

Tom. Neither would I. And I'd waylay just the rich 
people. 

George. Of course. (Pause.) It would be fun. 

Tom. Wouldn't it, though? To wear a slouch hat — 
and a mask ! 



18 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

George. To hide behind a big tree — and wait — and 
wait! 

Tom (excitedly). Until you hear someone coming 
along the road ! 

George. And then to jump out — to point a pistol — 
and to yell ! 

Helen. Boys! 

For, during this meditation, Tom's older sister, Helen, 
has thrown open the door and stands majestically upon 
the threshold. A raincoat is thrown over her dainty sum- 
mer gown, and the glance which she casts upon the en- 
grossed pair is not a serene one. 

Tom (as he and George come back to the realities of 
life). Gee — Helen — why can't you knock? 

Helen (with a withering look around the room). 
You're to come home. 

Tom. Who said so? 

Helen. Father. 

Tom. Why ? 

Helen. Because there's been another hold-up. 

Tom. That has nothing to do with us. 

Helen. Well, father seems to think it has. 

George. And why would anybody hold us up? 

Helen. Don't ask silly questions, George. You're to 
come home, too. 

George. I won't do it. (Sits by Tom.) 

Helen. And what's more — you're to accompany me. 

Tom. Without Fred and Ted? Not much. 

Helen. Where are they? 

George. Taking the girls home. 

Helen. Then they'll soon be back. I'll wait until they 
come. (And she enters seating herself very gingerly near 
the table.) 

Tom. You'll wait a long time, then. They are doing 
something else after they leave the girls. 

Helen. How provoking! Then you two must come 
along — I can't stay any longer. 

Tom. But, Helen — we can't. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 19 

George. And I'm not coming at all, I'll have you know. 

Helen. Don't be saucy, George. 

Tom. Please let us alone. 

Helen. But father won't like it. And mother will be 
nervous. 

Tom. What's the use of being nervous? That bandit 
is a hundred miles away by this time. 

Helen. Well — if you won't come now — will you prom- 
ise to be in by bedtime? (Rises.) 

Tom. We have other plans for tonight. 

Helen. But it's beginning to rain. And what can you 
do in the rain? 

George. Lots of things. We're used to it. 

Helen. Will you promise? 

Tom. I don't like to promise. 

Helen. Perhaps not. But I shall not stir a step until 
you do. 

Tom (very reluctantly). Then — I'll promise. 

Helen. Now, remember. By bedtime. 

Tom. Sure. 

Helen. And you may thank your lucky stars that I 
was sent for you. Nobody else would have let you off so 
easily. 

Tom. Don't let dad come. 

Helen. No danger. He and mother have gone to a 
dinner. That's the reason I'm letting you stay. 

Tom. You are a good old scout, Helen. 

Helen. And since I'm a scout, this is my act of kind- 
ness for today. (Looks about.) Mercy! What a hole! 

George. W r e like it. 

Helen. No accounting for tastes. (Turns at door.) 
Remember your promise now. 

Tom (raising his hand.) We swear! 

Helen. In before bedtime ! 'Or twelve o'clock will find 
you in a worse condition than Cinderella! (And off she 
goes.) 

George (as he strides back and forth). Now you'ye gone 
and done it. 



20 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Tom. Done what? 

George. Spoiled our fun. 

Tom. Spoiled it? You're crazy. If it hadn't been for 
me we should have had no fun at all. 

George. Then what made you promise that we'd be in 
at bedtime ? 

Tom. Bedtime in* summer is apt to be pretty late. 

George. And then to promise. 

Tom. But if I hadn't promised she would be sitting here 
yet. 

George (reflectively). That's so. 

Tom. And suppose the fellows had brought Jim while 
she was here. How would we explain it? 

George. Gee — I never thought of that. 

Tom. Well I did think of it and the only way to get rid 
of her was to promise. 

And at this particular moment three resounding raps on 
the door are heard. 

George. There they are. (The boys cross hurriedly to 
the other side of the room.) 

Tom. Enter! 

The door opens and Ted and Fred — rather rain-spattered 
— enter escorting the victim between them. The newcomer 
is also in rough sport clothes with a large handkerchief tied 
across his eyes and covering part of his face. By this time 
it has grown quite dark in the room. 

Fred (quite pompously as the three advance to C). 
Hail — Comrades Courageous. 

George (not knowing what else to say). Hail! 

Tom (coming to the rescue). Did the candidate resist? 

Fred. Not at all. 

Tom. Is he aware of the importance of the step he is 
taking ? 

Ted (who, unfortunately, is very literal). I don't know 
whether he is or not. He can't see where he is stepping. 
George. Suppose we let him answer for himself. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 21 

The Candidate (after an awkward silence). What do 
you want me to say ? 

George. Tell us why you wish to join this organization. 

The Candidate. Why — why — well — just because I want 
to join. 

George.* That's no reason. 

The Candidate. I don't know any better one. 

George. Why don't you say something about our aims — 
I our pursuits? 

The Candidate. I would if I knew what they were. 

George. Why — why — 

The Candidate. What are they? 

Tom (importantly). Just what the name implies — Com- 
rades Courageous. 

The Candidate. Oh! 

Tom. Everybody who joins this organization must — 
must — (hesitates) — well — must do something that's down- 
right brave. (Pauses.) Do you still want to join? 

The Candidate. Why, of course. 

George. Maybe you won't when you hear what you have 
to do. 

The Candidate. Why not? 

George. Because it's hard. 

The Candidate. I'd rather do a hard thing than an 
. easy one. 

George. Oh — would you! Well — just listen to this. 

Tom (excitedly). There's a bandit around here. 

The Candidate (coolly). Of course. Everybody's heard 
of him. 

Tom. And there have been four hold-ups on this very 
road. 

The Candidate. So you want me to be the bandit and 
pull off the fifth? 

George (in astonishment) . Whatever put that into your 
head? 

The Candidate. Oh, I'd just as soon do it if you'd 
promise to get me out of jail. 



22 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Tom (with great dignity). We don't ask our prospec- 
tive members to break the law. 

The Candidate (bowing). My mistake. 

Tom. There's a very lonely place on this road where it 
winds and twists — 

The Candidate. Near the river? I know it. 

Tom. Well, you're to act as sentinel at that very place, 
for an hour. 

The Candidate. Shall I go right now? 

Tom. In a moment. (Pauses.) It's where most of the 
hold-ups have occurred. 

The Candidate. That's all right with me. 

Tom. And, after you've watched there for an hour, 
you're to come back and report. 

The Candidate. Do I have a gun? 

Tom. Only a heavy stick. 

The Candidate. A stick's just as good. 

George. You seem cool about it. 

The Candidate. Why not? I'm willing to do anything 
to join. 

Tom. Your guards will take you to the place and leave 
you. You will take off your bandage after they have gone 
and will keep vigil for an hour. Have you a watch ? 

The Candidate. Yes. 

Tom. At the end of the hour you will return to us and — 
and — well, you'll be a member then. 

The Candidate. I'll be here. 

(And, at a motion from Tom, the victim is led out of the 
room by Fred and Ted. No one speaks. Only an occasional 
clap of thunder and the sound of the wind and rain breaks 
the silence. George crosses to the door, opens it and peers 
out.) 

George. Gee, but it's a bad night! 

Tom (thoughtfully as he stands at* center). And I won- 
der if that bandit is any place around ! 

Curtain. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 23 



Act II. 

Scene : Same as Act I. A few sputtering candles light 
the room and show Tom and George seated near the table 
and Fred and Ted on the bench. The four are apparently 
disconsolate. A deep melancholy seems to pervade. 

George (glancing at his watch). Queer how time drags 
when you're waiting. I could have sworn a half hour had 
passed since I last looked at my watch, and it's only a 
measly little old ten minutes. 

Tom. Are you sure that we told him to come back in 
an hour? 

George. Of course I'm sure. Why, you're the one who 
told him. 

Ted (thoughtfully). I never saw Jim act that way before. 

George. What way? 

Ted. Anxious to do everything we told him. 

Fred. And so quiet, too. Ted and I both spoke of it. 

Ted. Why, he never said a word all the way. 

Fred. And that isn't like Jim. He usually jabbers every 
minute. 

Tom. People don't jabber when they're being initiated. 

Fred. Well, anyone would expect it from Jim. 

George. Maybe he was really scared. 

Ted. He didn't act it. 

Fred. And that isn't like Jim, either. He's generally as 
nervous as a jackrabbit. 

Tom. I'm getting worried. (Rises and goes to door.) 
He should have been back long before this. (Opens the 
door, peers out and then turns.) Hush! Did you hear any- 
thing? (For a moment all are quiet.) Guess I imagined it. 

George. You're beginning to get on my nerves, Tom. 
(Pauses.) Do you really think something has happened? 
(Joins him.) 

Tom. I'm not sure what to think. But I do know that 
he ought to be back. (After a moment.) Two whole hours ; 
that's too long a time for him to stay away. 



24 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Ted. And it isn't like Jim to stay any longer than he 
has to. 

Fred. Not a bit of it. 

George (after a pause). Wasn't it somewhere near the 
place we left him that a man walked straight off the bluff 
into the river? 

Ted (in horror). You don't mean that — 

Tom. Nobody means anything. We're just — supposing. 
(Stands back of chair.) 

Fred. And it was on that same road that a fellow got 
knocked in the head. (Pause.) They found the body in a 
clump of trees. 

Ted (still horror-stricken) . And suppose the bandit did 
come back! Gosh! It makes me sick to think about it. 

Tom. There's no use in thinking of any of it. Jim's 
probably taking his time. 

Ted. In that lonesome place, in the rain, and all by him- 
self ? Not much. 

George. Maybe he's scaring us by staying away. 
(Strolls to tabic.) 

Ted. He would scare himself more than he would scare 
us. 

Fred (cheerfully). Like as not he's enjoying the quiet. 

Ted (ironically). Yes, he is — not. 

Tom (sitting). Honest to goodness, kids, I'm worried. 
And I'm ready to own up that we shouldn't have sent him 
there. 

George. Rather late for us to own up. (Perches on 
table.) 

Ted. And if anything has happened, what will become 
of us? 

Fred. We'll go to jail, that's where we'll go. 

Again the pall of melancholy descends. Each sees for 
himself a blighted future. 

Ted (weakly). What will they do to us? 
Fred. Who're they? 
Ted. The judge — and the jury — and — 
George. Life. imprisonment, I guess. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 25 

Ted (in a whisper). Life imprisonment! Just think of 
all the years ahead of us. {Plaintively.) It's darned hard 
to be so young ! 

Tom. Of course it might be (hesitates) — the other thing. 

Fred. Well, I'd rather die and get through with it. 

George. Sometimes they send young criminals to the 
reform school, don't they? 

Ted (brightening). That wouldn't be so bad. 

Tom. It strikes me that we're pretty hard-hearted to sit 
here talking about ourselves, when poor old Jim — (pauses). 
There is a prolonged silence. 

George (solemnly). Jim was a good old scout, always 
ready for a lark. 

Ted (gloomily). I wish he hadn't been so ready for this 
one. 

Tom. And he was so willing to divide his last cent with 
any one of us. 

Ted {who evidently speaks from experience). Not al- 
ways. 

Fred. And we never had to urge him to do anything. 

Ted (half to himself). Or anybody. 

George. And it would be pretty fine if we could hear 
his jolly old whistle again. 

(Sometimes strange things happen. For at this very mo- 
ment comes the sound of a shrill whistle from outside the 
cabin.) 

Tom (jumping up). That's Jim's whistle. (They all 
rise.) 

George. Pretty time of night for him to be coming in 
upon us ! 

Fred. And darn mean of him to scare us up like this. 

Tom. He needn't be too cock sure of being initiated. 

Ted. And a minute ago you were saying all sorts of 
nice things about him. 

Three knocks on the door and Tom throws it' open. 
There stands Jim very spick and span 7vitJi an immaculate 



26 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

raincoat over immaculate clothes, and only a dripping um- 
brella to spoil the general effect. 

Tom. Well, you're late enough. 

Jim. Couldn't help it. 

George. Why on earth did you change your clothes? 

Jim {puzzled). Change my clothes? 

George. The last time we saw you you didn't look so 
spruce. 

Fred. And I must say that it's pretty uppish of you to 
keep us waiting while you doll up. (Returns to bench.) 

Jim. I don't know what you mean. (Comes to center.) 

Ted. Your walk by the river must have touched you — 
up here. (And lie significantly touches his forehead as he 
crosses to right of stage.) 

Jim. I didn't walk by any river. I came straight over 
in the first auto I could lay my hands on. 

Tom. Maybe the bandit laid his hands on it, too. (Sits 
by Fred.) 

Jim. What bandit? 

Tom. Don't act innocent. We told you all about him. 

Fred. Or maybe you found him such excellent company 
that you couldn't get off to us. 

Ted. Or maybe you sneaked home and didn't do what 
we told you to do. 

Jim. Are you fellows all nutty? 

Tom. Just interested in you. 

George. Suppose you give an account of yourself since 
the last time we saw you. (Sits by table.) 

Jim. Why do you all keep saying "the last time we saw 
you" ? 

Fred. Because you were rather — different — then. 

Ted (chuckling). And we thought for a while that it 
was the last time sure enough. 

Jim (still more puzzled). I don't know what you mean 
— honest I don't. 

Tom. Perhaps you don't know that you've been initi- 
ated. 

Jim. I haven't been initiated. 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 27 

George. Oh, haven't you? Then what did you think we 
were doing? 

Fred. And why did you stand — right there — (points) 
and tell us you'd do anything we asked you to do. 

Jim. I never stood — right there — (points) and I never 
told you that I'd do anything you asked me to do. 

Ted. Then — you don't belong to our bunch, do you? 

Jim. I haven't been initiated, if that's what you mean. 

Tom. Oh, haven't you? Then how do you account for 
the little performance earlier this evening? 

Jim (hopelessly bczmldered). What little performance? 

George. What's the matter with you, Jim? 

Jim (crossing to table). And what's the matter with 
you? (Pounding the table.) I've just come, I tell you. 

Fred (jeeringly). Just come! 

Jim. I couldn't get the early train. (Turns.) I tele- 
phoned you, Tom. 

Tom. Telephoned me? 

Jim. Of course. Polly took the message. Didn't she 
tell you? (Leans on table.) 

Tom. Nobody told us anything. 

Jim. Then you must have thought it queer that I didn't 
show up in the place you had told me to be. 

Tom. We thought — well, go on with your story. 

Jim. There isn't any story. I just had to wait until the 
later train, and came straight to the cabin hoping you'd be 
here. 

George. But why didn't Polly tell us? 

Jim. I can't imagine. She said she would. (Sinks into 
chair.) 

Fred. She was right here, too. 

Jim. Say fellows, you'll give me another change, won't 
you? I still want to be initiated — honest I do. 

Tom. We'll do it tomorrow. 

Ted. And in the meantime it would be interesting to 
know who it is that we've just been initiating. 

Jim. What do you mean? 

Ted. Just this. (Sits on table.) Fred and I found 



28 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

someone — we thought it was you — in the place by the 
bridge. And — well, we initiated him. 

Jim. Who was it? 

Tom. We'd like to know. 

Jim. And how did he happen to be there? 

George. Ask us something easy. 

Jim (whistling). What a mixup! 

Fred. Rather. 

Jim (with a fine disregard of grammar). But couldn't 
you tell that the fellow wasn't me? 

Ted. How could we? He had a handkerchief 'way over 
his face, it was dark and rainy, we were naturally expect- 
ing you. 

Tom. And, anyway, we initiated him. 

George. Some stunt we gave him just the same. 

Jim. What? 

George. To act as sentinel right at the place where all 
the hold-ups have happened. 

Jim. Gosh! Are you going to give me anything as hard 
as that? 

Ted. Probably harder. We're mad now. 

Tom. Polly knows something about this. 

Jim. I bet she does, 

Tom. And I'll settle her in short order. 

George. Don't you remember how she jumped up all of 
a sudden and hurried home? 

Fred. Of course. 

Ted. And seemed so anxious to get Rob in the crowd? 
(As an idea strikes him.) Fellozvs! (Jumps dozvn.) 

Tom (as the same idea comes to him). I wonder — 

There is a light tap upon the door, and then another. 
Tom opens the door with a flourish, and there stands Rob. 
greatly disheveled, very wet, very weary, a bloody gash 
across his forehead and one arm hanging limply at his side. 
The boys crozvd on either side of him. 

Rob (limping into the room and leaning against the 
wall). I'm back, but I'm late. (As lie gazes upon the as- 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 29 

tonisJied crowd.) Won't you — forgive me — for not letting 
you know — that I — wasn't Jim? 

Tom. You're hurt. (And he helps him to a chair and 
stands by him while Jim stands back of another chair.) 

Rob (rather weakly). Ran against a tree coming back 
and cut my head. And as to this arm — well, I'll tell you 
about that later. (George and Fred seat themselves on 
bench.) 

Jim. Tell us first how you happened to be — met 

Rob. Polly helped me out. 

Tom (triumphantly). I knew it! 

Rob. She received Jim's telephone message and came 
on here to let you know. 

George. But she didn't let us know. 

Rob. Because, after finding out what you were plan- 
ning to do, she thought it would be a good joke to substi- 
tute me for Jim. 

Fred. She even asked how Jim was to be dressed. 

Rob. Of course. Didn't I answer the description pretty 
well? 

Ted. So well that not a one of us suspected that it wasn't 
Jim. (Sits on floor at C.) 

Rob. I thought of course that you'd find out. But I 
did make my handkerchief cover most of my face and I 
didn't talk much. 

Tom. And it was too dark to recognize anybody. 

Rob. Not half so dark as it was after you boys left me. 
(Pauses.) It was pretty lonely, too, for the rain came down 
in sheets, the wind was howling, and very few cars were 
passing. 

Ted. It's gloomy, all right. 

Fred. And the very place for an adventure. 

Rob. You bet it is. 

Ted. Did you have one? 

Rob. Well, rather. 

Tom. Tell us about it. 

Rob (after a pause). Well, I waited around for a long, 



30 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

long time, and suddenly I heard a noise back of me, and 
when I turned — (hesitates). . 

Ted (eagerly). Yes? 

Rob. A flashlight shone and I saw a man leaning over 
something. 

Tom. A corpse? 

Rob. Nothing so bad as that. 

George. Weren't you scared? 

Rob. For a moment, yes. Then I realized that he wasn't 
up to any good. 

Ted. Not much time to realize anything. 

Rob. I should say not. So I jumped out and hit him 
a good blow with my stick. 

Fred. He might have shot you. 

Rob. He tried to. But I struck the pistol out of his 
hand with my arm, and before he had a chance to get me 
I hit him over the head. (Pauses.) It knocked him sense- 
less. 

Tom (rather skeptically) . And nobody was around? 

Rob. Not a soul. (Pauses.) That bothered me, for I 
knew he'd come to and that I wouldn't have a chance with 
him if he did. 

Jim. What did you do? 

Rob. Nothing. But luck was with me ; for at just that 
moment a machine came tearing along the road. I jumped 
out, hailed it, and — 

George (impatiently). And what? 

Rob. Once more I was almost shot. (Laughs.) They 
took me for the bandit ! 

Tom. Who was it? 

Rob. The hotel manager and one of the hotel guests ; 
so it was all right. They bundled the man into the car and 
carried him off. 

Fred. Where ? 

Rob. To jail. 

Ted (reflectively). Just where we thought we'd be. 

Tom. Look here, Rob, you're stringing us. (Crosses to 
left.) 



COMRADES COURAGEOUS 31 

Rob. I'm not stringing you. It's the truth. I swear it. 

George. Do you think we're likely to believe that you 
knocked a man silly — and all by yourself? 

Rob. Ask the hotel manager. 

Tom. And how did you know that he needed to be 
knocked over. 

Rob. I knew all right. 

George. Why, the man may have been just a harmless 
traveler. 

Rob. Oh, no, he wasn't. 

Tom. Then who was he? 

Rob (very dramatically). The bandit! 

George. What? 

Tom. How are you sure? 

Rob. Because he was leaning over the mailbag! 

George. Can you prove it? 

Rob. Look outside the door and see. 

(Fred and Ted make a dive for the door. They return 
bearing between them a United States mailbag.) 

Fred. It is the mailbag! 

Rob. Of course it is. 

Ted (as they kneel at center and breathlessly open the 
bag). Why, it's empty! 

Rob. Why not? I dumped the mail into the car and 
begged for the bag just to show that my story was true. 
(There is a long pause.) And here I am. (He looks 
anxiously around.) I suppose I shouldn't have worked my 
way into the crowd like this. Maybe it wasn't the straight 
thing to do ; in fact, now that I've had time to think about 
it, I know it wasn't. But I couldn't let the chance go by. 

Tom (after a moment). I take back everything I said. 
Jt's the bulliest story I've ever heard. (Crosses to Rob.) 

George. And you're just the bulliest fellow I've ever 
met. 

Rob (eagerly). Then you'll take my apology? 

Tom. If there's any apology, it ought to come from us. 

George. That's where we made our mistake. 



32 COMRADES COURAGEOUS 

Fred. And not one of us has ever clone so brave a 
thing as what you've done tonight. 

Rob. Then you really want me? 

Ted. Want you? (Rises.) Well, rather. (Holds out his 
hand.) Here, shake. 

Rob (as he takes the outstretched hand). Is this the 
grip? 

Ted. You bet. 

Jim. Say, I seem to be left out of all of this. 

Tom. Wait till tomorrow night — just wait. 

George. And you'll have five putting you through — 

Fred. Instead of four. 

Ted. Won't it be a lark ? 

Rob. And aren't there lots of good times ahead of us? 

Jim. We ought to celebrate, we really ought. 

Tom (as a sudden thought strikes him). We will! 
(Runs over to the basket which is still on the bench.) 
Here's something to make us celebrate. (As he looks in.) 
Fried chicken, cake, jelly, dressed eggs. Line up, fellows! 

George. What's the first thing to celebrate? 

Fred (rising). Ourselves, of course. Comrades of the 
open road ! 

George. Comrades light-hearted ! 

Ted. Comrades loyal ! 

Tom. Comrades adventurous ! 

Jim (with a flourish). And comrades courageous! 

(And zvhile the curtain falls the boys crozvd about Tom 
as he opens the basket.) 

Curtain. 



DENISCN'S ACTING PLAYS 

Partial Ust of Successful and Popular Plays. Large Catalogue Free 



FARCES, COMEDIETAS, Etc 
Price 25 Cents Each 

M. F. 

All on a Summer's Day, 40 min; 4 6 
Aunt Harriet's Night Out, 35 

min 1 2 

Aunt Matilda's Birthday Party, 

35 min 11 

Billy's Chorus Girl, 30 min... 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min.. 5 

Borrowing Trouble, 20 min.... 3 5 
Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 

Class Ship, 35 min 3 8 

Divided Attentions, 35 min... 1 4 

Fun in Photo Gallery, 30 min.. 6 10 

Getting Rid of Father, 20 min. 3 1 

Goose Creek Line, 1 hr 3 10 

Great Pumpkin Case, 35 min.. 12 

Hans Von Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 

Honest Peggy, 25 min 8 

Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 

Just Like a Woman, 35 min... 3 3 

Last Rehearsal, 25 min 2 3 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min 8 

Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

Mrs. Jenkins' Brilliant Idea, 35m. 8 

Mrs. Stubbins' Book Agent, 30 m. 3 2 

Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 

Paper Wedding, 30 min. 1 5 

Pat's Matrimonial Venture, 25 

min 1 2 

Patsy O'Wang, 35 min 4 3 

Rummage Sale, 50 min 4 10 

Sewing for the Heathen, 40 

min 9 

Shadows, 35 min 3 4 

F'ii» a Song of Seniors, 30 min. 7 

Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 
Teacher Kin I Go Home, 35 

min 7 3 

Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 

min 3 6 

Two Ghosts in White, 20 min.. 8 

Two of a Kind. 40 min 2 3 

Uncle Dick's Mistake. 20 min.. 3 2 

Wanted: a Correspondent, 45 m. 4 4 
Watch, a Wallet, and a Jack of 

Spades. 40 min 3 6 

Whole Truth. 40 min 5 4 

Who's the Boss? 30 min 3 6 

Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 2 

Wrong Baby, 25 min 8 

FARCES. COMEDIETAS. Etc 
Price 15 Cents Each 

April Fools, 30 min 3 

Assessor, The, 15 min 3 2 

Baby Show at Pineville. 20 min. 19 
Before the Play Begins, 15 

min 2 1 

BillvV Mishaps, 20 min 2 3 

Coiinlfv Justice. 1 => min.'...-.. 8 
Cow that Kicked Chicago, 25 m. 3 2 

Fanuiv Strike, 20 min 3 3 

First-Class Hotel. .'O min 4 

For Love and Honor. 20 min.. 2 1 
Fud are and a Bursrlar. IS min.. 5 



M. F. 

Great Medical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 
Initiating a Granger, 25 min.. 8 

Kansas Immigrants, 20 min... 5 1 

Lottie Sees It Through, 35 min. 3 4 

Pair of Lunatics, 20 min 1 1 

Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min.. 6 2 

Please Pass the Cream, 20 min. 1 1 

Second Childhood, 15 min 2 2 

Smith's Unlucky Day, 20 min.. 1 1 

That Rascal Pat, 30 min 3 2 

Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 
Two Gentlemen in a Fix. 15 m. "2 

Wanted: A Hero, 20 min 1 1 

VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES 
Price 25 Cents Each c 

Amateur, 15 min 1 1 

At Harmony Junction, 20 min. 4 

Breakfast Food for Two, 20 m. 1 1 

Cold Finish, 15 min . 2 1 

Coming Champion, 20 min.... 2 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 1 

Her Hero, 20 min 1 1 

Hey, Rube! 15 min......... 1 

It Might Happen, 20 min 1 1 

Little Miss Enemy, 15 min.... 1 1 

Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 

Marriage and After, 10 min.. 1 
One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Curl's Moder. 10m. 1 

Quick Lunch Cabaret, 20 min.. 4 

Si and I, 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 1 5 min 2 

Street Faker, 15 min 3 

Such Ignorance, 15 min....... 2 

Sunny Son of Italy, 15 min.. 1 

Time Table, 20 min 1 1 

Tramp and the Actress, 20 min. 1 1 

Troubles of Rozinski, 15 min.. 1 

Two Jay Detectives, 15 min.. 3 

Umbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 

Vait a Minute 2 

BLACK-FACE PLAYS 
Price 25 Cents Each 

Axin' Her Father, 25 min 2 3 

Booster Club of Blackville, 25 

min 10 

Colored Honeymoon, 25 min... 2 2 
Coon Creek Courtship, 15 m... 1 1 
Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m. 14 
Darktown Fire Brigade, 25m.. 10 
Good Mornin' Jud^e, 35 min.. 9 2 

Hungry, 15 min 2 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 2 

Memphis Mose, 25 min 5 1 

Oh, Doctor! 30' min 6 2 

Troubled by Ghosts, 10 min... 4 
What Happened to Hannah, 15 

min 1 1 

A great number of 

Standard and Amateur Plays 

not found here are listed In 

Denison's Catalogue 



T, S. DEN I SON & COMPANY, Publishers, 623 S. Wabash Ave. .Chicago 



1-1021 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



POPULAR ENTERTAir 

Price, Illustrated Paper Cove 




IN this Series 
are found 
books touching 
every feature 
in the enter- 
tainment field. 
Finely made, 
good paper, 
clear print and 
each book has 
an attractive 
individual cov- 
er design. 
A Partial List 
DIALOGUES 

All Sorts of Dialogues. 

Selected, fine for older pupils. 
Catchy Comic Dialogues. 

Very clever; for young people. 
Children's Comic Dialogues. 

From six to eleven years of age. 
Country School Dialogues. 

liiaiul new, original 
Dialogues for District Schools. 

For country schools. 
Dialogues from Dickens. 

Thirteen selections. 
Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 

Over 60,000 copies sold. 
r i om Tots to Teens. 

Dialogues and recitations. 
Humorous Homespun Dialogues. 

For older ones. 
Little People's Plays. 

l-'rom 7 to 13 years of age. 
Lively Dialogues. 

For all ages; mostly humorous. 
Merry Little Dialogues. 

Thirtv-eight original selections. 
When the Lessons are Over. 

Dialogues, drills plays. 
Wide Awake Dalogues. 

Original successful. 

SPEAKERS, MONOLOGUES 

Cno<ce Pieces for Little People. 

A child's speaker. 
The Comic Entertainer. 

Recitations, monologues, dialogues. 
Dialect Readings. 

Irish, Dutch. Negro, Scotch, etc. 
The Favorite Sp< afcer. 

Choice pro-e and poetry. 
The Friday Afte oon Speaker. 

For pupils of all ages 
Humorous' Monologues. 

Particularly for ladies. 
Monologues for Young Folks. 

Clever, humorous, original. 




Mor 5 018 604 645 6 

Scrap-Book Recitations.. 

Choice collections, pathetic, hu- 
morous, descriptive, prose, 
poetry. 15 Nos., per No. 35c 

DRILLS 

The Best Drill Book. 

Very popular drills and marches. 
The Favorite Book of Drills. 

Drills that sparkle with originalitv. 
Little Plays With Drills. 

For children from 6 to 11 years. 
The Surprise Drill Book. 

Fresh, novel, drills and marches. 

SPECIALTIES 

The Boys' Entertainer. 

Monologues, dialogues, drills. 
Children's Party Book. 

Invitations, decorations, games. 
The Christmas Entertainer. 

Novel and diversified. 
The Days We Celebrate. 

Entertainments for all the holidays. 
Good Things for 1 Christmas. 

Recitations, dialogues, drills. 
Good Things for Sunday Schools. 

Dialogues, exercises, recitations. 
Good Things for Thanksgiving. 

A gem of a book. 
Good Things for Washington 

and Lincoln Birthdays. 
Little Folks' Budget. 

Easy pieces to speak, songs. 
One Hundred Entertainments. 

New parlor diversions, socials. 
Patriotic Celebrations. 

Great variety of material 
Pictured Readings and Tableaux. 

I.nlnely original features. 
Pranks arid Pastimes. 

Parlor games for children 
Shadow Pictures, Pantomimes, 

Charades, and how to prepare. 
Tableaux and Scenic Readings. 

New and novel; for all ages. 
Twinkling Fingers and Sway- 
ing Figures. For little tots. 
Yuletide Entertainments. 

\ choice Christmas collection. 

MINSTRELS, JOKES 

The Biack-Face Joker. 

Minstrels' and end men's gags. 
A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy. 

Monologues, stump speeches, etc. 
Laughland.via the Ha-Ha Route. 

A merry trip for fun tourists. 
Negro Minstrels. 

All about the business. 
The New Jolly Jester. 

Funny stor ies, jo kes^gags^ etc. 

Large Illustrated Catalogue Free 



T.S.DENISON& COMPANY, Publishers, 623 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago 



